A Repost from the past that touched my heart and I hope it will touch yours!

“Bible Ballistics: BBs #369 God’s Secret Place !!!

“He that dwelleth in the secret place

of the most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD,

He is my refuge

and my fortress:

my God;” Psalm 91:1

I’d just like to share a word of encouragement with you today. As children we all loved “secret” things: secret codes, secret places, just plain secrets–although secrets are seldom kept! But God keeps His secrets until the proper time comes to reveal them. Here the Psalmist mentions the one who “dwelleth in the secret place of the most High”, and tells us that he/she will abide under the “shadow of the Almighty”; a reference to the fact that those who belong to God, are cared for. Just as a sweeping Oak Tree will shade everything under it’s ‘shadow’, God cares for those who are His own. And you can be assured that God knows His own children—we who are His through faith in Jesus Christ The Lord—and we can confidently proclaim with the Psalmist that:

“He is my refuge

and my fortress:

my God;

in him will I trust”

How do we get into that “secret place”? Through faith in Jesus, and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the ONLY way to be in that “secret place” of God! And when we come there, God is truly our refuge, and fortress, the One in whom we can always “trust”! Mary, the sister of Lazarus, had to choose what she would believe.

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection, and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him,

Yea, Lord:

I believe

that thou art the Christ,

the Son of God,

which should come into the world.” John 11:25-27

Mary believed what Jesus said, and she made the decision to trust in HIM. In her specific incident, she believed that Jesus, The Messiah, could take care of her grief in the loss of her brother, and in that belief she saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. And praise God we can all be raised to life with Him, now, as well as after our death, or at His return. And until then we can live victorious lives through His indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Whereof I am made a minister,

according to the dispensation of God

which is given to me

for you,

to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery

which hath been hid from ages

and from generations,

but now is made manifest

to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:25-27

This wonderful “secret”, this “mystery”, is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”! The promise of the New Covenant is Jesus dwelling within us through His Holy Spirit—He is the evidence that we belong to Jesus. He is the power that keeps us! He is the assurance of the glory to come!!! And we ought to depend on this amazing gift of God to guide, teach and direct our steps. He is the “secret” place where we are safe and secure, but even more importantly; He empowers us to serve our God powerfully in that place—through His indwelling presence, “Christ in you”! Are you in Him? Is He in you? If not won’t you come to Him today? If you are His already, won’t you welcome and embrace His will for you? He longs to have you “abide” in Him, in loving gratitude, devotion and dependence!

It’s so nice to be back with you all, and I thank you for your faithful prayers and encouragement to me as I write and post to remind us all to look up and know that our “redemption draweth nigh”; and while we all have struggles in this life, even as it becomes more and more “un-politically correct” to speak God’s truth, may we remember that Jesus warned us of reality!

“These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus death, burial and resurrection are our hope; His willing, substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “MY” sin is my joy, hope and confidence—and it can be yours as well! The peace that Jesus gives is immeasurable, and certain!

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Paul tells us how to keep this thankful, God-centered mindset; a mindset that we all struggle with in these difficult days. But when we remember that our Lord is faithful and HE has promised to empower us for victory, we can press on, keeping our eyes on the ‘prize’—Jesus—not the ‘pries’—those things in everyday life that try to “pry” us away from our safe place in our Lord.

“The name of the LORD

is a strong tower:

the righteous runneth into it,

and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Oh, how glorious! We must remember that our battle is in the mind, and we have to keep our eyes (and minds) “looking unto Jesus”, thinking on the things that are pleasing to Him, for our hope is in HIS power, provision and protection! So, we must not ‘pass’ up HIS ways. (See 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me, do:

and the God of peace

shall be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Have you noticed that God’s peace is mentioned over and over again in relation to our obedience and devotion to our Lord? Just a word from Jeremiah as we wrap up today’s post. I pray that wherever you are, whatever is going on around you, you will remember to look up and not let your surroundings rob you of the love, peace and provision that God IS! May Jeremiah’s words resound in our hearts today; for remember, he had watched his own people reject God’s Word and reap the whirlwind in the Babylonian defeat of Jerusalem—yet he rehearsed the goodness of God in stark contrast to the defeat and rubble that lay around him. He was lifted up as he remembered the truths of God’s character, no matter our circumstances. Don’t let the “peace of God” pass you by—we can make it a “no passing” zone by trusting to The One who has you/me and our circumstances; remembering, as our brother David Ring often says, “God never says oops!”

I just want to share an encouraging word with you today about real freedom—freedom that we have IN Jesus! We have been saved to serve The Sovereign God Almighty and His Son Jesus, through the power of saving grace and the impartation of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Power to be God’s children and live in a manner worthy of the “heritage” that we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

Oh, praise God for that deliverance and translation into God’s glorious kingdom—one that is free from fear and bondage! All because of what Jesus did for us through His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary! Paul reminds us to “remember” whose we are, because of Jesus’ completed work of salvation!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received

the spirit of bondage

again to fear;

but ye have received

the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself

beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also

glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:14-18

Oh, praise God, I just want to shout—in fact I just did—Amen, thank You, Jesus! Yet, we also have a call to follow our Lord in word and deed—Paul says it better than I can (and in so many places, but I’ll share just one this morning):

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you

that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness

and meekness,

with longsuffering,

forbearing one another

in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity

of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

All things that we can be victorious in as we walk “in the Spirit” and not the flesh. Sometimes (often times) we find ourselves yielding to the flesh, when we ought to be looking up and not around! As one of my dear friends is often heard to say, “we have to remember what Paul told the young preacher, Timothy, and not be afraid”! No matter how often we may stumble or fall, the key to success in God’s kingdom, is to just get up, look up and press on for our KING!

“For God hath not given us

the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I pray that these few words of encouragement will lift your spirit today! I love the Greek word translated here “sound mind”, for it literally means “right thinking”; and as I heard someone say long ago, we need to look up to our Lord, and “quit your ‘stinkin’ ‘thinkin’!” May it ever be so, and as a final reminder, don’t let fear rule your heart but follow Paul’s admonition for ‘thinking’:

We all have days when we’re down, when we aren’t ‘feeling’ well, when we just feel discouraged or confused. Well, I tweaked my back yesterday and I was sitting here thinking of how blessed I am—that my/our God is so faithful no matter how I/we “feel”! I was so encouraged this morning when I opened my blinds to sit and write this post this morning, as I saw a cute little hummingbird, and then looked out a minute later and a lovely red cardinal was feeding at the seed feeder. It was like a special delivery message from the Lord who loves me, that all would be fine. In fact, as I’m writing now, those little hummingbirds are buzzing my cannas at the window! How blessed we are, if we’ll but open our hearts and our eyes! I just want to remind each of us that no matter our circumstances, or our feelings we can take heart knowing that:

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent

reigneth.” Revelation 19:6

God hasn’t slept through your crisis, nor has he been surprised by sudden calamity, for HE is working in our behalf—HE reigns—in your life, in my life, in our world! Remember, as Bro. David Ring often says, “God never says ‘oops’!” Amen! So, here are just a few tidbits from The Word to encourage your heart and mine this morning. I pray that God will use them to lift your eyes to the skies, and your heart to our KING!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The joy HE gives—the joy HE is—the joy HE has for you/me!

“And when he had consulted with the people,

he appointed singers unto the LORD,

as they went out before the army,

and to say,

Praise the LORD;

for his mercy endureth for ever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21. (Read the entire chapter for a real boost to your day!)

Praising God will always send the enemy fleeing! We can stand with Job in the midst of chaos and hold fast to God’s faithfulness.

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain

mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

As. my brother-in-law is always saying, no matter what’s happening in our lives we must just, “Do right, do right, do right, and then just DO RIGHT!” God will always be honored when we do right—for it is as ‘unto the Lord’ knowing that our soon-coming King sees, and knows, saying, “and my reward is with me” (See Rev. 22:12)!

I have a very brief word to share this morning as the sun pops over the horizon. I can’t help but thank God that HE IS my strength and my redeemer, and we just need to keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus! And while heaven is my home, I still have to live this life as long as God gives me breath; maybe you need a word of encouragement along with me this morning—let’s dig in.

“The LORD is my light

and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

the LORD is the strength

of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

No one! We can walk in confidence and overcome the fears that confront me/you; and while my fears will be different from your fears, we can look up to The One who has us in His hand; and as believers in Jesus, we have been given His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

“Howbeit when he,

the Spirit of truth,

is come,

he will guide you

into all truth:

for he shall not speak of himself;

but whatsoever he shall hear,

that shall he speak:

and he will shew you

things to come.

14 He shall glorify me:

for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14

And I am so thankful that Paul reminded his son-in-the-ministry of this very thing. So, friends, may we remember that we are not alone, and as King Solomon wrote “there is no new thing under the sun” (See Ecclesiastes 1:9)!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I find it interesting that the word for “sound mind” here, is a word that means “right thinking”, and ‘right thinking’ means thinking God’s thoughts, and remembering that HE has it all in His hand!

“And all Judah stood before the LORD,

with their little ones,

their wives,

and their children.

14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,

a Levite of the sons of Asaph,

came the Spirit of the LORD

in the midst of the congregation;

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah,

and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and thou king Jehoshaphat,

Thus saith the LORD unto you,

Be not afraid

nor dismayed by reason

of this great multitude;

for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:13-15

Take some time today and read this whole episode in the life of Jehoshaphat, it will encourage your soul, no matter what trials or battles you may be facing; for remember God has told us as well, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (See Hebrews 13:5-6)! May you have a blessed day—look up—our God reigns!